Greenpeace activists placed a 40-foot-long inflatable whale on top of Germany's highest mountain to lobby for greater protection of cetaceans at the 55th International Whaling Commission meeting due to be held in Berlin from 16-19 June.

Despite claims from whaling countries that the number of certain whale species, such as minke, is increasing, International Whaling Commission scientists have noted a decline in whale, dolphin and porpoise numbers. This research is in line with other recent scientific papers showing that the numbers of large predatory fish in the oceans has dramatically reduced, and that over-fishing is leading to the collapse of fish stocks.
Conservationists point out that activities such as whale and dolphin watching and diving tourism can provide a far better and more sustainable income than hunting and killing whales. Greenpeace is lobbying to strengthen the conservation role of the Scientific Committee of the IWC and extend the work of the subcommittee on whale watching.
For more information visit the Greenpeace website.



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